Don't let other people dictate what you "should" see. If you have an interest is seeking them out to view them, then go ahead. Otherwise, life is short, and two hours - multiplied by all these films - really starts to accumulate, and you should be using your time doing (or viewing) what you really like and enjoy...

I agree. After close to thirty years now of watching movies, I think I've developed a pretty good idea of what I like and don't like, so I choose what to watch accordingly. If something just doesn't look like the kind of movie I think I'd enjoy, I won't watch it, regardless of whether or not it's deemed I "should" just because it's considered a classic. Granted, there are some some classic movies I truly do want to see -- The African Queen, Lawrence of Arabia, Rio Bravo, Patton, just to name a few -- but simply haven't gotten to them yet, still.

It goes without saying, there are just sooooo many films out there that at some point you kind of have to just say, "I'll watch what I feel like watching" in order to cut so much out that you could never possibly get around to.

Careful now, PhiladelphiaSon! "Simply the greatest performance by an actor on film. It's not even debatable" is pretty debatable!

I mean it's not even debatable for me. For me, it IS the greatest performance by an actor on film. Just as Anne Bancroft in THE MIRACLE WORKER is the greatest performance by an actress on film. Not debatable. It just is.

Ah, gotcha Philadephia! Funny you should mention THE MIRACLE WORKER because when I was running that scene from IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE through my head (the one I mentioned above, with Jimmy Stewart going off the rails), the other scene that came to mind which matched it in its dramatic and emotional intensity was the Bancroft/ Patty Duke "eat your food" sequence. Sheer brilliance in every way.

"Birth of A Nation" "The 10 Commandments" (the silent version) "The Wild Bunch" (have it on Blu ray...and one day...)

Some thoughts:

"The African Queen" is a brilliant, tour-de-force for Bogart, Hepburn and director John Huston. An amazing voyage!

To the person who listed a long string of classic films, many of them with classic film scores, I can only say that your disregard for seeing those films rather puts you in an awkward position. Anyone who knows of the opinions you posted herein will likely consider you a film illiterate. Whether they interest you or not, you won't find much respect for your opinions about film music when you haven't seen many key films with classic scores.

To the person who listed a long string of classic films, many of them with classic film scores, I can only say that your disregard for seeing those films rather puts you in an awkward position. Anyone who knows of the opinions you posted herein will likely consider you a film illiterate. Whether they interest you or not, you won't find much respect for your opinions about film music when you haven't seen many key films with classic scores.

My own thoughts as well Ron. To casually dismiss the films of John Ford, Michael Powell, Billy Wilder and others universally accepted as amongst the greatest directors, isn't clever. Opinions are all very well - but they have to be informed opinions.

I mean it's not even debatable for me. For me, it IS the greatest performance by an actor on film. Just as Anne Bancroft in THE MIRACLE WORKER is the greatest performance by an actress on film. Not debatable. It just is.

You just might have something there Phil, old boy. I mean, to make a meal out of folding a napkin requires acting, n'est-ce-pas?

Looking through some of the answers on this thread, I’m surprised at the number of ‘classics’ I have seen compared to some on here. I’ve seen much fewer ‘new’ films in recent years though.

However, from the top of my head –

I haven’t seen a single Woody Allen film, I’ve only seen the first Star Wars film (which was enough!), haven’t seen any Star Trek films and the only Tarantino I’ve seen is Reservoir Dogs. I have never seen Citizen Kane either.

On a positive note, I have seen every Chaplin film (to my knowledge), seen most 'biblical epics', I’ve seen Birth Of A Nation and pretty much every classic western I can think of.